The Chatwal Lodge To Open In The Catskills

Two hours north of Manhattan, an intimate new luxury retreat is set to open this May. The Chatwal Lodge was built to be an exclusive getaway, one that’s as rarefied as one could expect within 90 miles of Billionaire’s Row in Manhattan. For starters, it was built on land that was part of Chapin Park, an 18,000-acre private game and wildlife reserve acquired by entrepreneur Chester Chapin in 1891. It’s been built anew and imagined as an Adirondack great camp for today’s movers and shakers. Oh, and it has just 11 guestrooms and suites.

Located in the town of Bethel, New York, in the Catskills, The Chatwal Lodge architects utilized native stone and branch work to attempt to stay true to the historic aesthetic and craftsmanship of the lodges that once populated upstate New York. It’s setting out to offer the kind of rarefied and sublime luxury experience that’s not readily available to anyone in the greater New York City area. You’d probably have to venture up to the Adirondacks themselves to The Point or head out to the Rockies to find a comparable setting and a similar level of woodland luxury and privacy.

The Chatwal Lodge is located within 30 acres of environmentally-protected land within The Chapin Estate, a 2,500-acre gated residential community. At its heart is the 1,000-acre Toronto Reservoir Lake. There will be just 11 suites, some with private patios overlooking the Toronto Reservoir Lake, featuring vaulted ceilings, arched windows, reclaimed-wood walls, log-treaded stairs, hand-carved headboards, and faux fur and woolen upholstery. Some accommodations will have larger lakeside decks, outdoor showers, deep soaking tubs, kitchens, dining and living areas suitable for family gatherings. The amenities include 24-hour valet service, concierge and butler service, as well as 24-hour in-suite dining.

The promise is luxury “rustic” accommodations for a handful of well-heeled guests, absolute privacy and the chance to relax with fly fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, golfing, lawn croquet, and recreational badminton. Personal pampering and growth activities include Ayurvedic wellness treatments, yoga, meditation, private wine tastings, cooking classes, and music lessons.

The project is from hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, the founder and chairman of Dream Hotel Group, whose flagship property is The Chatwal, New York in Manhattan. The architecture and design is by Steve Dubrovsky, who specializes in 19th-century Adirondack style residential building. His private homes can be found throughout The Chapin Estate.

The main lodge building is the social heart of the lodge and will feature Rustic Grill, a farm-to-table restaurant, a lobby lounge, a wine cellar, a bar, and a private dining room. At Rustic Grill, Chef Jesse Kloskey’s cuisine is referred to as “refined rustic American” that was inspired by his Wisconsin childhood and time spent cooking in Napa’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Utilizing the best of local Catskills farms, the restaurant will offer lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Breakfast is served daily at the Timber Lounge, with its wood-beamed ceilings and stonework.

Afternoon tea, cocktails and all-day dining can be enjoyed beside the massive fireplace or on the outdoor terrace with heaters to take in the lake view all year round. There will also be a library, a lakeside pavilion and rooms to accommodate meetings and weddings.

Nightly rates are based on double occupancy and include three meals per day, per guest, starting with dinner on the night of arrival and ending with lunch on the day of departure; use of the Fitness Center; Activity Center; Culinary, Mixology, Gardening & Foraging Classes; use of Outdoor Activities, including boating, canoeing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, bike riding, hiking trails, badminton, nightly sunset cocktails on Lake Toronto*(weather permitting). Wine, beer, and liquor are also included as is Wi-Fi.

Guests have the option of booking a single suite or taking over the entire lodge. Rates at The Chatwal Lodge will start at $1,150 per night.